BJP slams Pakistan over PoJK rights violations

Jammu: The BJP on Thursday alleged that Pakistan was "dismantling" from the inside, and condemned alleged human rights violations by authorities against protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

The BJP accused the Pakistan state and its army of using force against peaceful protesters demanding civil and political rights in PoJK.

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"We strongly condemn human rights violations in PoJK. Pakistan is dismantling and failing as an ideological state. Pakistan state and its army are committing atrocities and human rights violations against peaceful protesters demanding civil rights there," Jammu and Kashmir BJP spokesperson Ankur Sharma told reporters here.

Addressing a press conference flanked by BJP spokespersons Zorawar Singh Jamwal and Vikram Malhotra, Sharma described Pakistan as a "totalitarian state" that is rapidly weakening and said its ideological foundation had failed, citing the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 as an example.

He claimed that movements in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh regions reflected growing public discontent, and asserted that Pakistan's internal challenges were deepening.

Reiterating the BJP's stand on PoJK, Sharma said the territory is an "integral part of India" and would be reclaimed "at an appropriate time", in line with the 1994 parliamentary resolution.

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Alleging widespread human rights violations in PoJK, Sharma said demands for fair elections, greater political autonomy, lower electricity tariffs, subsidies, transparent governance, release of detained activists and independent investigation into protest-related deaths were allegedly being met with excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on freedom of expression, media curbs, communication shutdowns, enforced disappearances and use of anti-terror laws.

Jamwal alleged that residents of PoJK had been facing repression by the Pakistan state over the past few months and appealed to the international community to seek an independent investigation into alleged killings and disappearances.

Malhotra referred to observations made by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), claiming it highlighted concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression, discrimination against minority communities, the use of anti-terror laws against political opponents.

The BJP leaders also criticised Kashmir's political parties for allegedly not speaking out strongly against Pakistan over the situation in PoJK.

They alleged that Pakistan had historically used Kashmir as a base for terrorism against India and claimed that while internationally-designated terrorists enjoy protection in Pakistan, peaceful protesters seeking basic rights in PoJK are labelled as terrorists.